But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Galatians 5: 22-23

Do you remember the toilet paper shortage of 2020? It was absolutely insane was it not? I remember visiting my local supermarket and thinking, “You’ve got to be kidding!” The aisle was completely empty. Later I learned that the pandemic had interrupted production lines, thus the shortage. Sadly, when we look for peace in the world today, we sort of get the same feeling. The peace aisle is empty. Production lines have been interrupted. Nations are in turmoil. Families are in turmoil. People are in turmoil.

Paul tells the Galatians that peace is a fruit of the Spirit of God. It is a by product of God living in us. We humans have tried to achieve peace through wars and through peace talks, but we have come up short because peace is not a thing, peace is a person. Peace is not the absence of conflict but rather it is the Presence of Jesus.

Our world needs a lot of things, but if I were to choose just one thing, it would be the Peace that only Jesus can give. So let us return to the altar and cry out for Jesus. Let us pursue an intimate relationship with the giver of true and everlasting Peace. Let us reconnect the heavenly production line so the Father can once again deliver Peace to our broken, fractured and divided world.

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us and grant us your Peace. In Jesus’ name. Amen!